How to learn English? (30/30 Challenge)

[Renny]

I agree with Torsten's opinion in topic" Do you want to improve your English ? " that we must create system in daily activities. I am interested to adapt your opinion.
My experience learn English not only to join English Course but also to practice routine. When I have holiday I will listen English News from Indosiar Programme for 20 minutes. Every a weekend I watch oriental film. Everyday I try to speak English with some person for 10 minutes. On internet I read the Jakarta Post Newspaper, follow English Forum or Chat with people. And I often send messages by cellular with my family.
I realize that the weakness of my system tend to press the most pointing for reading and writing than listening.
How to listen English ? When I listened English News from the programme of Indosiar Television or the interview programme, I could understand 60% news. But when I watched the original film, I only could understand the meaning in 40%. In this point of my weakness is luck in daily vocabulary than in formal language.
After reading your newsletter, I have to manage and adapt your system in daily activities. Thanks for your opinion. It is help me to improve English languages.

[Filcanlas]

Hi Torsten

You're asking me about my progress in learning english, I would say that I learned more and continuous growing and excelling that I used in my daily work with other english speakers.
Sometimes I can't reply immediately due to my work load and too tired after 3pm, but I would like to request from you that please continue to write a message and the lessons intended for me.

Thank you, and extend your patience on me.
fil

[Regine83]

Hi Torsten,
Even though I want to improve my English only for my pleasure, I'm ready for the challenge. Currently, I try to improve it here and on some others English web site. I also use it sometimes at my working place with our foreigner customers. In winter I go to a weekly English class which is very interesting and when I'm alone at home I take advantage on the English channels available on my TV. Every month I buy "Today in English" and I read English books. Finally, I speak English with my friends from all over the world I met years ago while I was studying English in an online school called "Englishtown". So, let me know how to improve it more.
Regards,
Régine

[Chokyi]

Please put me in your list. I have been looking for a way to improve my English.
I will try to report what I would learn by following your ideas.

Thanks

[Yegan]

Hi
I want to tell that my speaking has not developed, but my listining is developing!! How can i improve my speaking? How can I use the words that i know?

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

Have you tried getting in contact with some of the American that live around you?

TOEIC listening, question-response: Are you going to the national conference this year?

[Nola]

Hi Torsten,
Everyday I deal with British and American native speakers and I can contact with them well. I can understand them well and vice versa. But most of the time when I listen to English news, movies, or songs I feel that I can't follow many of their speech. I really don't know the essential reason for that although I can speak English well and my English accent is quite clear to all the native English speakers I have dealt with. If you have any advice about that, please support me. :!:

Nola
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Nola

[Torsten]

Hi Nola,

To answer your question I need a little more information from you. For example, what do you mean by saying you "feel you can't follow" when you listen to the news, movies or songs? Judging by your written English I would assume that you understand most of the vocabulary that's used in an "average" movie. So it would be great if you could be more specific. What kind of phrases or speakers do you seem to have problems with? How often do you watch movies in English or listen to the news?

Maybe when you feel you can't follow you just should try to relax. Don't force yourself "to follow". Have the audio play in the background and let your subconscious mind absorb the sound. The next day you will suddenly will have phrases or words in your head you might not remember hearing and then you can do some research on their meaning.

Let me know what you think.
Many thansk,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, question-response: How come Mason isn't here?

[Nola]

Hi Torsten
Many great thanks for your advice. May be if I get more relaxed when I listen to an English song or when I watch a movie, it will be much better for me to follow the whole meaning of them. But sometimes I find it difficult to follow some songs in my own mother tongue, may be because of the rhyme of the song. What about a foreign one?. I have to listen to the English song more than three times to be able to understand it well which confuses me and makes me feel less confident about myself.

On the other side, when I listen to the English news I find myself consentrating on one part of the news while the repoter is moving to another part so quickly which makes a gap between me and the sequance of the news.

Many thanks,
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Nola

[Edgarcosco]

Hi Torsen;
Thanks you very much for his advice. I will take his sugestion.
I listen some songs in the night but it is dificult for me understand all song.
Now I am checking the web the BBC.
Some people who speak very fast native English I can not follow their speech-
Torsen I hope to read his anwers,
Regards,
Edgar

[Torsten]

[Torsten]

[Nola]

Hi Torsten,

So, how often should I listen to the English news?
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Nola

[Torsten]

Hi Nola,

Please read this and let me know what you think.

Regards,
Torsten

TOEIC listening, talks: Stadium announcement asking fans to remove car from emergency exit

[Nola]

It's OK, Torsten. Thank you for your help. I'm going to do so.

Many thanks,
Nola
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Nola